The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-28
MILLIE, THE ORPHAN.
The Story OF Mrs. Reddick's Birth
day Present.
Written for this Parer.1

essay, Mandy"
Eyes, Rube.
1--WE an 2dee."
'Well, what is it?''
at KEN to me quite bit ago."
"Ye'ye bin keepin' it to yerself all
this time, hev YEP"
eyes; sorter tig'rin' on it."
very well, then, don't want to
hear it,"
Don't git so hufy bout it, Mandy,
an I'll tell ye."
''No, We needn't! 1t wouldn't be
the first time We moped round with
sometdee in yer head. keepin' it to
yerself until We coulden't fgger it out,
an then We come to me to help we,
don't YEP"
81 reckon I'll have to say yes, to
please yc."
eye needn't try to please me now.
RUDE Reddick, it is too late in the
day fer thatm and Mandy rose,
slammed the kitchen door, and sat on
the back doorstep.
Mr.. Reddick remained in the kitch-
en- and quietly continued his smoking.
lie knew hrs wifes curiosity would
urge her to return as soon as her fit of
anger was over.
A prosperous farmer was Mr.. Red
dick, and one of those who are not
content to follow in the old rut of their
grandfathers, 9ut endeavor to keep
abreast of the times, testing the worth
of every new theory advanced in the
line of agriculture, and invariably sue
ceeding where their less energetic
neighbors fail. Now he had a comfort
able home and a considerable sum
placed to his credit in the village bank.
Sixteen years of welded life found
him without an heir, and to this cause
might be attributed the little ''spats"
occurring now and then at the Reddick
farm, which the curious neighbors con-
strued in various ways.
Some shook tneir heads and said:
"Rube's tax to drinkin' ag'in, Tn
almost sure He abuses the poor crit
ter of q wife most shamefully."
They were wrong, however Over
twenty years had rolled away since
Rube had had his last 'spree." Since
that time he had not tasted drop of
any intoxicant, not even the hard cider
of which his slanderers seemed so fond.
Others would say: "Rube would be
all right if it twan't fer the pesky wife
o. his'n."
Here again they were wrong, for
Mrs. Reddicl1 was quiet Industrious
housewife, minding her own affairs,
and striving to make home as cheer
full as possible. Her husband knew
this, and therefore entirely ignored the
idle comments of his neighbors. Ger
tainly, they had word at times, and
what family does not?
During the day Mr.. Reddick revolved
aquestion over and over again in his
mind, and the longer his ''idee" re-
manned visionary, the more he de
sired it to eliminate in reality. He
could hold his secret no longer and de-
termined to ask his wife's opinion in
the matter. His first trial resulted rs
we have seen.
Now, while he sat quietly smoking
and thinking, FIVE minutes had worn
away, with Mrs. Reddick still sitting
on the back doorstep.
In few moments more the door
opened softly and Mrs. Reddick en-
tering, returned to her chair by the
window. Neither broke the silence for
"a time. Then the good woman, unable
to bear the suspense, mustered up
courage and renewed the conversation.
"Well, Rube, air We goin to tell me
what that idee of yourn is9"
"Mebbe, " said Rube, with tantaliz-
ing air of indifference.
"What is it, any way, much impor-
tance to usP"
perhaps it is, and mebbe it isn't"
replied Rube. "But l reckon I'd best
not tell We an make it surprise like. :"
Now / want to know-a surprised"
and Mrs. Reddick wondered what the
surprise would be, In a few days her
fortieth birthday would be at hand,
san he intends to make me q nice
present" she thought, a smile fitting
over her handsome features. Mrs.
Reddick wals still handsome woman.
"All right, Rube," said she, arising
to prepare The supper.
After supper Mr. Reddick said ne
would 90 towards town as he had some
business to transact, and that she might
sit up and await his return. if she
wished, adding that he would be pleased
to have her do so, as he intended to be
away but an hour
Il do wonder what he intends to